Newsletter May 2023 (1/2)
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ETH Domain News
May 4, 2023
 
 
 
 An European fire ant worker (Myrmica rubra) is carrying a Hollowroot (Corydalis cava) seed. Seed dispersal is one of the many functions of ants in ecosystems. (Photo/©: Philipp Hönle)
What causes insects to disappear
There are fewer and fewer insect species, individuals and biomass worldwide. Moreover, their composition is becoming more uniform. This is highlighted in a special issue of the journal Biology Letters, in which WSL was involved. It outlines the causes and consequences of the global crash of insect populations and possible measures to counter it.

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 Aerogel glass bricks are thermally insulating and translucent, but still not transparant thus providing privacy. (Image: Empa)
Translucent bricks
Glass bricks have long been popular in architecture for bringing more light into buildings. Until now, however, they have not been suitable for load-bearing walls and have not insulated well. An Empa team has now developed a translucent glass brick with good insulation properties thanks to aerogel, which can even be used for load-bearing elements. This makes it possible to build aesthetic, translucent walls that reduce the need for artificial lighting inside the building.

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 What came as a shock to the educational system is that ChatGPT can master university admissions exams. (Illustration: Adobe Stock)
Artificial intelligence is not a pandemic
There are concerns that ChatGPT could undermine the educational system, and growing demands for rules governing its use. Gerd Kortemeyer, Director of Educational Development and Technology at ETH Zurich, argues that anything but the most common sense regulations could end up being counterproductive.

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 The groundwater samples examined by the researchers come from 20 different wells in the catchment basin of the river Töss in North-Eastern Switzerland. These wells are located either in forested or in agriculturally used areas. (Photo: Eawag, Angela Studer).
DNA traces in groundwater
An Eawag study shows that a large variety of living organisms leave their DNA traces in groundwater – which also depends on the land use in the catchment area. In future, these biological parameters could be used to assess groundwater quality.

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Space © iStock
Silence reveals insights in search for extraterrestrial life
The search for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations has yet to yield evidence of alien technological activity. Research carried out at EPFL suggests we continue searching while optimizing the use of available resources.

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AI put to test: making a brand new song in a day
🕒 10 minutes

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